Preacher

My original quote for highest-end metal film was $225,in Maine.
In FL,where I used to live,the same'd be about $120.
Ceramic sounds to be the ONLY choice,given the internal antennae of the 8s.My cel reception in any car sucks bad enough already,no way I'm going to degrade my signal any more,and I will not get a conventional external cel antenna,they don't strike me as attractive,though if I get any spare change eventually I'll try and find a powered,low-key euro model.

Ajax

150 more for HO here..
I didnt bother. It doesnt look dark enough to me and that's part of what I got the windows tinted for, the look.

Preacher

H.O. Tint goes up to 50%,I checked.That's legal max in Maine,anywayzzzzzz.....now,to tie it all up tomorrow,I'll post the (OUCH! OUCH!) cost,too.
(insert wistful sigh here)

Preacher

My tech says it hasn't been/won't be a problem w/the HQ metal-based tint,so I'll go with that and if there's any issue in the future,they'll replace it w/out issue.
I don't have nav,and cel reception,he assures me,won't be affected.

Boozehound

Alright, I've done my requisite searching and only found one picture. Are there any pics out there of 8s with Heuper Optik ceramic tint installed? I know what the Llumar looks like (last 2 cars), but after I conduct my own "test" like Pavehawk, it's decision time this Sat. I got quoted $300 for Hueper Optik in Houston and $150 for Llumar titanium, so I think it might have to be the more expensive pending emperical results...

So let's see some pics!!!

Preacher

I know HO does 30/40/50% tints,from the link in my previous post.Finding a distributor in the NE might be a bitch,we have nasty tint laws up 'north and tint biz' are rare.

Boozehound

30 looks acceptible. I had 25 & 35 on my last 2 cars, so it'll probably work. Just lookin' for pics of an 8 with H.O. now...

SL01

Here's a photo my RX-8 with Huper Optik 40 tint. It did not interfere with the NAV system or radio reception at all. I think I would have preferred the tint be a little darker here in Florida.

--SL01

Boozehound

Are your front windows tinted? The back and the rear side glass both look dark, but the front side windows look pretty light.

SL01

Yes, Huper 40 on all windows but the windshield. The front looks lighter because you're seeing through to the windshield. The other windows look darker because the interior is dark and/or you're seeing through to another tinted window.

--SL01

kwolfman

I have a quote of $425 for HO tint in Maryland (just outside of DC). The problem is, there are very few HO certified installers in any one area. They have territories. So there is no competition. That makes barganing tough.

I'm also thinking of having the sunroof lightly tinted too. That would help to keep the UV and IR out. The ceramic tints have fabulous UV and IR rejection specs. They quoted me $68 for the sunroof, but I think they pulled the number out of their collective asses. I'll offer them $450 for everything, and that is still being generous.

Boozehound

I did the same test that Pavehawk did with the llumar titanium. I had a relatively small piece and laid it across the package tray and - blammo - the GPS signal was gone. I didn't go to the screen with the diff't satellites to see exactly what was going on, but I'm convinced enough that I'm going with the ceramic if I can get it. Right now I'm in the middle of finding someone to get it done here in Houston - apparantly the buy-in is pretty steep for installers (~1500), so if you don't have a bunch of people who want it or know about it, you're stuck with a big loss.

mysql101

So far it looks like Hüper Optik and Madico CharCool are the only two alternatives if you have the navi... anyone know how good the CharCool tint is? I don't want purple crap in my car

kwolfman

I would think you should have no problem finding a Huper Optik installer in your area. They are headquartered in Houston.

Go to their website. You can ask for installers in your local area. I found there was only one locally, so there was no bargaining on price...but it is greate stuff.

mysql101

Okay. I'm back from the tint place.

I went to Window Tint America here in Clearwater FL.

I had their recommended Solar Guard Grey tint installed - 18%

I was worried about GPS reception, but it worked fine. No GPS signal loss. AM/FM also works great.

They are highly recommended!

It was $140 installed.

Boozehound

Now to bring this thread back from the dead...

I just put on HO 30 all the way around yesterday. It looks fantastic and if the sun ever shines again here, I can report on how much heat is rejected.

One disconcerting bit - I have the factory nav system, and after my tint was installed, there is a noticable downtick in GPS reception. This is from viewing the backdoor satellite strength menu and by watching the 'GPS' icon turn on and go off periodically. The car still tracks very well (no flubs yet) on the maps (probably due to the quality of dead reckoning), but I'm worried that it's going to degrade if I get anything in the way of sky obstructions. Maybe it'll get better as it dries (doubtful), but just a warning to those looking at HO - it may not be invisible to your GPS system and radar detector as I (and many others) assumed.

If someone can point me to a claim by HO that their tint shouldn't effect the nav this way, let me know - it may be useful in the future...

RAM

SL01 - - - where in the Orlando area did you have yours installed?

Preacher

I went w Titanium instead of ceramic and have had no interference w radio or radar(no nav) to date.

SL01

Class on Glass -- near I-4 & OBT. They did a very good job.

--SL01

Pavehawk

The titanium film that was on my rear window was the culprit in my GPS reception problems. For those that have the factory navigation system, metalic films should be avoided. If you have concerns about a specific film I would suggest having the installer take a small sheet of the film and lay it on top of the rear package deck while monitoring the GPS info in the hidden menus. I don't know exactly where the antenna is but I suspect it's in the center of the deck between the two rear speakers.

Boozehound

Pavehawk's right - I've looked through the manual and it's located in the center of the package tray if not slightly to the driver's side. If anyone's interested in getting to it to see what's up (that may be me in a few days), you take out the rear seats, side sills, upper and lower rear trim pieces, and then the package tray. I'm wondering what I can do to gain better reception without replacing the uber-expensive ceramic on the back glass. All suggestions appreciated...

Pavehawk

Having never seen the antenna I can only assume it's a small flat patch style antenna mounted horizontally under the package deck. Given the amount of things to be removed I'm not sure I want to go looking for it.

I have seen, with increasing frequency, small circular antennas and fin antennas on different vehicles which I can only assume are for XM or Sirrius radio service. It should be possible to purchase a replacement antenna that could be located on the trunk lid. In fact this location could give you better forward sky visibility than the current location.

I've also seen small antennas that aren't much bigger than a few 50 cent pieces stacked up placed on the front dash. I can only assume that Mazda chose the back of the car instead of the front because of potential RF interference with the TPMS.